Master Bedroom or bath, or adult office area.

I thought the master bath. Master bedroom is still too public. Maybe even master closet. :-)

I agree with master bed or den, office. I don't see it in the bathroom.

I forgot to say that it's a small photograph. 8x10 including border.

Basically, would it be appropriate, if I could find the right spot for it? I know art is subjective and that's a hard question to answer. So I guess that's why I'm asking for opinions.

I think it could be controversial to many. It isn't just a drawing-class nude. The marble bodies are clearly in the throes of something.

I say MBR, both for the appropriateness and the inspiration factor!

I say hang it where you like. I have several pictures that include *some* nudity in my home. It's art...what matters is that you like it.

Bernini was a devout Catholic and he gave the statue to a Cardinal. The sculpture tells a big story that remains interesting. Pornography is little and focused on one thing and it gets boring quickly.

If you have littles around who might not get it right, you can tell them the background and call it an art and history lesson.

According to this, despite its title, it is not a depiction of rape as we refer to rape, but rather a kidnapping.

Methinks it was edited with a different intent.

Here is a link that might be useful: just a little kidnapping

My MIL once had a velvet 'painting' of a nude young woman, her body was clearly adult, but the face was very young looking. It was disturbing, and they displayed it in their front room. It was not art-that piece felt pornographic.

Your photo is striking and thought provoking. I'd put it in any room that it fit the mood of the decor.

The sculpture is extraordinary but I personally find the subject matter to be disturbing. Rape, kidnapping, whatever, the woman is clearly in distress. The small part that the photo shows, I think, implies something different than the sculpture as a whole.

Since you asked for opinions, I would say that the picture is not appropriate for most homes because of the subject matter of the sculpture as a whole.

I think it depends on who you entertain.. and your own preferences. I had kids in my house often-- and I ended up putting away the nude (tame rear view) sketch I had in the bathroom because it made them gather and giggle. Not that I was a prude or wanted to hide the human form from them.. but it became a distraction for the little ones. I am certain that it was probably more provocative to them because it was my work.

Art is what moves you-- this clearly speaks to you so it has a place in your home. I'd put it where the mood fits. My sketch was done in blue and black pencil-- it fit the bathroom decor but I wasn't particularly tied to it. It may or may not take a place on my walls in the new house.

I liked it until I read the meaning. Saying that, it's still a beautiful work of art and I would put it in your bedroom.

I think it is lovely and I would not like to see it relegated to the bathroom. I would put it in a hall, bedroom or den. Put it where you see it every day so you can enjoy the beauty of the art.

I'd like to add a voice of "bathrooms are a great place for art". I'm not saying this particular piece belongs in the master bath, but pointing out that we spend time in our bathrooms, time when we can actually enjoy what art is in there.

An artist friend of ours (and from him we have a nude we can't decide where to hang) said that he isn't offended when people put his work in the bathroom because it means they put it somewhere where they'd see it multiple times per day.

Beautiful photo. Since it's small, I'd hang it in a LR with a group of art work of similar quality so it's not the center of attention, just one element to consider of a terrific whole.

I've seen that Bernini sculpture in real life. The fabulous technical and aesthetic aspects kind of overwhelm the subject matter, IMO. Also, societal attitudes were so very, very different in Bernini's day, you can take the subject with a grain of salt.

I have this John Singer Sargent print in the master bath. I find it very relaxing.

Can't you just feel the icy water?

Here is a link that might be useful:

This has turned into a very interesting thread. Thank you.

I have been lucky enough to have gone to Italy and I have seen this piece, and many other extraordinary pieces, in person. I am well aware of the meaning, and, yes, it is of a kidnapping of the daughter of Jupiter by Pluto. Her story is the basis for the Roman myth of springtime.

Bernini intended for the sculpture to be viewed face-on. That said, I understand how some can see the photograph as not honoring the sculpture as a whole. Knowing the history of the sculpture, I did not see anything pornographic in the photograph, but was more taken with the incredible detail. Out of context, however, it is a very risqu� picture.

It does not belong in a main room of my home yet. I am thinking I will purchase it and keep it until I can give it a proper place.

Thank you all for your input!

You should definitely get it, especially if you have seen it in person. Enjoy!

I say hang it where you like . . . It's art...what matters is that you like it.

Exactly. What's wonderful is that this is something you truly love. It has meaning to you (instead of just being something to match the sofa), and I think you should hang it wherever it is likely to bring you the greatest enjoyment.

I know everyone is different, but I decorate my home to please me (well, and my husband too), and don't worry about what some random guest may find shocking. My house. My walls. My taste. My art. ;-)

side note: geokid, for some reason I read your post as wanting to put it in a 'kid''s room...was slightly aghast until I realized I'd committed my sometime mistake of conflating words because of skimming too fast!

That said, put it wherever you want it! Art is in the eye of the beholder. I remember when I learned about Joel Peter Witkin (which is much more risque than this--I can't take looking at his 1980s photos for very long, myself) and wondered who could really 'like that stuff', but I know that people do and it's considered extremely brave, convention-challenging art by many.

Just acknowledge that the context may be problematic, in a way (different historical mores taken into account) and love the closeup for whatever reasons you want to--the mastery of the marble, for instance -- wow-I can definitely see that as one amazing aspect. You could put it in a context of other pieces and it would then be speaking to them rather than standing on its own, if you want...but in general, I'm with Sunny, the way she stated it so simply at the end of her post.

This is a very interesting thread. I have an engraving of Fragonard's "La Chemise enlevee" (a cupid lifting off a woman's chemise as she lies in bed), which has hung in my living room ever since my parents retired and got rid of "stuff". It was in our dining room the entire time I was growing up and I can't remember anyone making a point about it, ever.

The photo is really beautiful. While the subject matter of the actual sculpture is disturbing, the photo does not seem to convey that same meaning at all. I absolutely agree with what funkyart said: it depends on your personal preferences and who you entertain. I very rarely have any children in my home and would have no problem displaying that photograph anywhere in my home. From your original post, I would say that is not necessarily the case for you, but I think a space like the master bedroom or master bathroom would be perfect.

I would put it in my very large (imaginary) walk-in closet with where I could gaze at it from my chaise lounge, light streaming in the window/s and my book on a gorgeous antique side table beside me.

Seriously, I do think if I had a walk-in closet with space for it, I would put it there. I have photographs in my not-so-large walk-in closet. Or the master BR, master bath (I am a firm believer that bathrooms need good art), or my study. It is gorgeous.

Crop and rotate this image and it will look like something much different from an elbow...

I think the photo (and statue) are beautiful. However, I do think the photo, on its own, is also suggestive and risque. Personally, I wouldn't hang it in a public room in my home. I have various generations who come over (from babies to great-grandmas,) and I respect their different levels of modesty.

With that said, I am in no way suggesting others here don't do the same, nor would I be offended by similar artwork in another person's home....

Not casting judgment on anyone's modesty or sense of decency, but sometimes it strikes me as strange that our culture has "informed" us that certain parts of the body are risque, even hinted at as being shameful. An elbow is acceptable to gaze upon, a butt isn't. Yet we all have these parts, and they all perform important functions.

Just thinkin' out loud (or through my fingers, I guess I should says).

I just think it's funny that the OP finds the work risque, and too risque to post in the public rooms of home, but doesn't think twice about posting the image in a public forum! :) I think if the image is "tame" enough to post on here, then it's tame enough to go into any room in the home. Art IS supposed to be provacative and evoke emotion and conversation.

I think because you are asking the question, you know that your intention is to enjoy the lovely picture without turning it into an issue for anyone.

Maybe I'm just getting too old, but what I can't take my eyes off are those elegant hands, and how the cold marble actually looks like warm, soft flesh.

You know what to do, I think. Go ahead!

That sculpture reminds me of one that I remember seeing a picture of in art history class years ago that I always wanted to see in person. The trouble is I don't remember the name of the piece or the artist. What struck me at the time was the fingers pressing into the flesh sculpted in the marble, but the subject matter was not violent at all. (that I recall) Anyone have any ideas of what I'm looking for?

I knew young children would not likely see this post but they would in the main rooms of my home! And I also warned potential readers what they would see if they clicked on the link. I assumed everyone would be able to discuss the subject in a mature way, and I was right. I have loved the discussion so far!

I am definitely going to buy it and put it in a private room until my kids are older. Then I would love to do a gallery wall of all of my favorite black and white photography as awm03 suggested.

I don't find the original nearly as offensive as some. First of all, an artistic rendering of a mythological story. It's a glorious work of art. The photograph does not reflect the "story" of the original sculpture-- and yet is beautiful in its own right. Outside of the context of the original work, you see strong masculine fingers pressed into delicate smooth flesh. It is absolutely suggestion and (to me at least) speaks of passion. I love it..

and yet, *I* would not hang it in a family room. Why? Well because the mood I want to create in the family room is one to reach multi-generational guests. Kids. Grandmas. Self-conscious 13 yo boys. I don't drop F bombs or pull out R-rated movies when the family gathers either.

Am I prude? Far from it. Do I not appreciate the art-- or do I want to hide art (clothed and not) from the younger nieces and nephews? Absolutely not. But when setting a mood and tone with decor, I believe you must think of your audience. If your audience is just you and your mate-- well go for it!!

I once did a Paint-by-Numbers painting for a charity event-- each artist started with the same Mona Lisa PBN page and was to give it their own artistic slant. I painted a younger Mona.. with a velvet robe revealing a breast. Now, I am not a great painter but I did a pretty awesome job on some parts-- including the breast. My mother cried when she saw it-- she loved it and was just so thrilled that I'd returned to my art (it was the first thing I'd painted in about 35 yr). She so wanted the painting that I ended up making a donation to the art center and giving her the painting... but only after she promised to keep it in her bedroom or somewhere only she could see it. What she never knew was that, with the help of a mirror, I was my own model! hahah.

Funkyart, you hit the nail on the head with what you said about mood and decor.

Terriks, maybe Paris and Helen by de' Rossi? Or Rape of the Sabine Women (again, rape meaning abduction)? Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss by Canova? Or Je Suis Belle by Rodin? Or maybe Apollo and Daphne also by Bernini. Maybe it's the geologist in me, but I am awed by stone sculpture.

Whoops. Sorry about all the posts. I'll blame it on the iPad!

Hmm, thanks geokid, but I don't think that it's any of those. But I'll have to do a more thorogh search later. I think that is was from the Bernini era. I should dig through my old books.

Interesting, (to me, anyway) that the photograph depicts the most violent part of the whole mood and work. If you have ever been held tightly enough for someone's fingers to press that deeply into your flesh, you would know that the grip is very painful. Yes, it is a mythological subject, and the original is beautifully executed---but like like so much of mythology it is misogynistic and I can't think of a room where the photo would be appropriate.